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Start of new season on ice as Derbyshire v Gloucestershire ends in abandonment

8 April 2024

The start of the new season at Derby ended in anti-climax and frustration when the Vitality County Championship match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Weeks of rain leading up to the match followed by more bad weather over the four days left the County Ground outfield saturated and unfit for first-class cricket.

After more rain on Sunday night, umpires Ian Blackwell and Neil Pratt called the match off after an inspection at 9.45am on Monday morning. 

It is the first time a County Championship game at Derby has been abandoned without a ball bowled since the match against Nottinghamshire was completely washed out in May 1981.

Both teams take eight points from the abandonment and will now hope for better weather in their next fixtures with Gloucestershire hosting Yorkshire at Bristol and Derbyshire facing Glamorgan at Cardiff on Friday. 

Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne said:

“I was only saying to the players today that you normally play all these games in your heads and talk about outcomes and things that might and might not happen but I must admit not playing four days wasn’t on my radar.

“I never really processed that one so it’s really disappointing that we didn’t get out there. But we do know it’s part and parcel of the English season so as disappointing as it is, it’s not going to derail what we look to do next, we are going to crack on and get ready for the next challenge. 

“There are not a lot of positives to take away from not playing, that said for the players to maintain such a strong work ethic and great attitude even though we weren’t playing is a real takeaway for me, they’ve been brilliant these four days.”

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